That said, it is still possible to feel some sympathy for property owners bordering the ACT who had apparently banked on a windfall profit from selling land for residential development and, as a result, are now crying foul.

Given such potential returns were always speculative it remains to be seen if, as some claim, the buffer zone will devalue their properties.

The proposal, to create the transition zone that would place a moratorium on urban development for the next 20 years, was due to go to Wednesday night's YVC meeting.

It apparently come as a surprise to the landowners, several of whom have well advanced plans for cashing in on Canberra's land shortage and their proximity to booming northern suburbs such as Gungahlin and Moncrieff.

Some have gone so far as to propose a string of six interconnected villages, with a potential population of up to 27,000, spread across 2,250 hectares north of the border at Mulligans Flat.

This, with the greatest respect, is what the buffer, which is supported by the ACT Government as well as the Yass Valley Council, is intended to avoid.

The town centres concept, which has driven development in the city-state for decades, has always served Canberra well. Our green belts are an integral feature of living here. Unparalleled exposure to forested and rural views are cited by many residents as major contributors to the quality of life in the "bush" capital.

It would be counterproductive to have more strip development along the already challenged Barton Highway, such as is happening at Murrumbateman, and a fresh urban sprawl between Gungahlin and the Federal Highway.

The latest controversy over where Canberra's future development will occur raises many issues the ACT Government, the NSW Government and neighbouring councils must address.

With the local shortage of building land already pushing Canberrans across the border in large numbers the ACT Government is going to have to provide schools, hospitals and other facilities for more and more non residents and ratepayers in the future.

While some arrangements are already in place to provide financial compensation, these will need to be revisited as the number of cross-border commuters and service users grows.

The availability of essential services, particularly water, is also a fundamental issue given Canberra is the largest city, and the only capital, within the environmentally fragile Murray-Darling basin.

Yass is already looking to the ACT for its own longer term water security and these pressures will increase as cross border development outside the five kilometre buffer zone accelerates.

While the challenges are significant, the fact YVC and the ACT Government appear as one on key issues such as preserving the separate identities of both communities is a good sign they will be able to co-operate to achieve the best possible outcomes in the future.